Woking magistrates heard the windows of his house had been smashed, his cars and fence had been damaged, and he had been forced out of his local pub.

Mark Williams, defending, said Fisk had become suicidal and was "a prisoner in his own home".

He was arrested last August when police were called to his house on another matter.

They searched it and found a cardboard box containing indecent photographs. They later discovered more indecent pictures of children on his computer.

Temi Bakare, prosecuting, said when interviewed by police Fisk claimed he was trying to protect his five-year-old daughter.

She explained: "He said he had been searching the internet for paedophiles because he wanted to see what they were up to."

Fisk admitted possessing 21 indecent images of children and appeared for sentencing on Friday.

Mr Williams argued against sending him to prison, saying Fisk would not be able to cope in that environment.

"Mr Fisk does come here having accepted that he is responsible for what he has pleaded guilty to, but I must stress that this is a case of mere possession — he has no connection with the making or taking of the photos and no proximity to those involved.

"There is also no suggestion of abuse and no exchange or distribution of the images."

He added that Fisk down-loaded the pictures on to a computer he alone used, but said this use was "perverted".

Mr Williams said most of the photographs were of a "low level" of indecency, and his behaviour was "indicative of some of the aspects of his difficult life".

He added: "My client has suffered a great deal as a result of this and has been suicidal throughout, but he knows he'll have to be registered and serve his punishment."

Fisk received a 36-month community rehabilitation order, was ordered to join the Thames Valley sex offender programme and was put on the sex offenders register for five years.